Settle is an active lieutenant colonel the Wounded Warriors Brigade at Fort Knox. He's been recovering there from a traumatic brain injury he got in combat since last January.

Because of his injuries, he said, police misunderstood him.

Surveillance video from an incident shows several LMPD officers huddle around Settle outside of a Louisville mall.

They pull a stun gun on him and push him to the ground, and he said he did nothing to deserve that treatment.

Settle's attorney, Thomas Clay, provided the video to WLKY.

"I'm like, 'Have I done something wrong?' I thought, 'Surely, is this like a joke or something?'" said Settle.

Last January, while shopping for a gift for his wife at the Mid-City Mall, he says the officers harassed and detained him.

"He's certainly paid a price for his service and for him to be treated this way, I think is pretty despicable," said Clay.

Settle suffered a serious brain injury after a suicide bombing in Afghanistan. He now has trouble remembering things and forming thoughts. Those injuries, he believes are what led to this treatment.

"When he appeared to be confused, they misinterpreted that he may be on drugs or drunk," said Clay.

His clothes were dirty from working on a nearby home, and his attorney said the officers might have mistaken settle for a homeless panhandler, asked him to leave the mall and show his ID.

Settle said he obeyed, but from there, things got rough.

"I went to pull my wallet out, that is when he grabbed me and said, 'Get your hands out of your pocket and up where I can see them,' and kind of spun me around and I say, 'Hey, I'm doing what you said,'" said Settle.

Now, looking at this instance as an opportunity, Settle's hoping police will train officers to recognize wounded veterans.

"If you don't take something out of an opportunity, then shame on that person," said Settle.

Settle said he was handcuffed for 15 minutes, then let go once officers realized who he was.

Since the incident, Settle said LMPD offered an apology in Fort Knox.

Settle's attorney said none of the officers were reprimanded. LMPD has 20 days since the lawsuit was filed to respond.

LMPD declined to talk to WLKY on Monday because of the pending litigation.